3000 class at the Paignton Regatta

The 3000 Travelers Event 4 took place in Torbay on Saturday as part of the Paignton Regatta and sponsored by Noble Marine Insurance.

Undeterred by the F6 blowing in Torbay, the Arrans (3604) and Blakes (3085) sped off into the angry sea for a fantastic hour of belting up and down in the waves, before realizing that there were only 3000s and RS 600s left on the water and that the safety boats were rounding everyone up, when back ashore, Totnes Sailor Jim Hill-Jones now 65 and a past national champion (3600) had unearthed a sizable stash of anti-inflammatory drugs, banished his back strain pain and was ready to race – though speaking a little carefully! Greg his crew was about to take part in his very first race in a 3000 although he had some previous training sessions with Jim the Babbacombe Corinthian Sailing Club Racing Coach & Senior Instructor.

With everyone confined to the bar for safe keeping, the intrepid power boat men set out again to lay a new much simpler course. By 2pm the 3000s` were back out on the water for two back to back windward leeward races with the Asymmetric fleet. While Leigh (3303) and Vander Borght (1001) remained ashore in the bar!

Race 1: With the wind down to a more manageable F4/F5, the Symmetric Fleet set off on their Olympic course, leaving the Asymmetric fleet to tussle for the start line. Moments before the start, Hill-Jones/Wright (3600) went over – its helm searching for his wrist watch, leaving the Arrans (3604) and Blakes (3085) head to head and battling for clean air with an ISO and two Buzzes and a Vortex. Eventually a gust wiped out 3085 and 3604 was left clear, heading for the first mark, just beating one of the buzzes up the beat before blasting down a deep kite run back down to the Leeward Mark.

Lap two was a choice between wind and waves on the sea side of the course or flatter water but less wind to shore – the smart money went out to sea and we all planed back up to the mark, 3604 botching the kite launch and going over inches after the turn. Hill-Jones/Wright (3600) was catching up fast by now (3604) just held on to the lead.

Race 2: Still blowing a decent F4, light rain and a vicious chop; everyone approached the line together but the Arrans (3604) got too close to the committee boat end of the line and was forced out by a Vortex squeezing up to starboard – it was tack away, stall on the line or hit the committee boat, none of which seemed ideal, but the emergency tack won out.

The Blakes (3085) and Hill-Jones/Wright (3600) headed off up wind together leaving 3604 behind. Everyone had learned the fastest route this time and a few tacking battles broke out pushing some boats over the port lay line, leading to a close reach dash for the mark. 3600 was round the mark, kite up and heading back down before the other two 3000s` had reached the starboard lay line. Footing off on to a plane got 3604 back in front of 3085 and round the windward mark first. In the wind and waves, running deep was evidently the key and 3085’s attempt to gain speed and distance by going higher resulted in a swim. 3600 continued to gain ground, having overtaken the leading Buzz up the next beat and turning steadily into a black dot on the horizon. A further two laps changed little with 3600 continuing to increase it’s lead, helped a little more by a misjudged extra jibe by 3604, intended to get the kite to port before the drop, resulting in an upside down boat just before the final 20 metre reach for the finish line.

Overall Results:

1st Hill-Jones/Wright (3600)
2nd Arrans (3604)
3rd Blakes (3085)

Many thanks to Paignton SC, for the hospitality, friendly advice and invaluable safety boats. We’ll be back!